Valve mechanism



I May 26, 1931., R. E. BLETCHER ET AL 1,807,081

VALVE macmmsu Filed Oct. 51, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tic a; I/ A 36 l 1i z 2a 27 ,25 2.9 Z Z2 19 3 27 25 a4 25 40 v 41 14 36 19 15 -1 if I 20 1N VE N TOR Ralph E'- B/efcher; Ernesf ff. Buckne/l;

May 26, 1931. R. E. BLETCHER ET AL 1,807,031

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 er; f H Buckne/l;

11v VENTORS E jiiiii' 5 Ra/ BY 3 mun/V 9T4C7ETORNEY aii:

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITE; STATES; PATENT RAL I; E.- B E HEB AND i RiiEs'r rt. 3303mm, 93 e cemeoame VALVE MECHANISM Application filed October 31, R327.- Serial No. $39 ,035.

This invention relates to yalve mechanisms, an pa ti clerly i? n ov n p v y acting ,n eans that can be arranged in the lines. of supply leading from respectively difierent liquid'sources and which said means will be characterized by instrumentalities that will permit liquid to be discharged selectively from said sources, so that the liquid from. one source may be led from that source andnlixed with a determined measure of liquid discharging from another source, or whereby li piid may be positively discharged from either- 91" the sources without being mixed orthe least intermingled with the liquidef the other source.

The invention is particularly designed for 1. 38 in connection with lavatory fixtures of the type whereinprovision is made for the deliyery of hot and cold water from the customary hot and cold water sonrces, but it should be understood that. this is not to be taken as a limitation and that the invention is to be reviewed in the light of a mixer broadly witout regard to the nature of the liquids to be dispensed.

a ex mely im i bi -fi i the i vention nesides in the prpvision of means for positively insuring against the slightestintermingling of twoliquids when is desired that .bn t one liquids-hall be dispensed.

further object of the invention resides in the ,proyislon of positively functioning means for determining 4 lie amount of liquid of lrind to be intermingled with a liquid ot another kind and discharged therewith from the mechanism. w

' Aistill. further object of the invention is to provide a valve mechanism which is simple construction, positively acting, strong and durable and one which will not easily get out ,of repair, but which willf consist of a novel combination oi partsthat will allow ifor q1llQl{ 16p 3li:S when needed or a substitution at minimum expense of a new part for a worn one.

" A still turther object of the invention re- .sides inthe provision of' mechanism of this character which .may be connected respectively with a discharge faucet and a shower headland whic w in l d mea m n 9 the faucet and shower head for directng the Wa r t e the ne of t s eme i In th ac ompany ng ra s,-

Figure 1 is a View in vertical section th ough he m h n s h Parts wn in elevation and parts broltenaway.

.Eignre 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1; o

Figure3 is a vertical section on line 3+3 of F g re W h P ts sh w i ll 1. .6 Fig r l i a ragm n a y e ona v e through portion of the mechanism showing an dju tmen of ts p t fo a d l ry Q cold water therefrom;

Fig re i a i w simi a o. F e Y showing an adju tm h pa ts for th deliyery therefrom of hot and cold water;

Figure dis a similar view showing an adiustm nho th p ts o a d sc a f hot Wa e e efliem; v

F g re '7 i a botto P a V ew 9 t Separa er;

Fisi eS s a b t om P a V w o On 92- t e sle v sthe invention into practice,

In carrying 1 Y use is made of a valve body 10 having a vertical cylindrical extension 11 rising there gt'rom, Below the said cylindrical extension 11, the valve body is formed with an inlet duct 12 in communication with a threaded branch 13, the latter adapted to be arranged in the customary manner in a source of hot water supply. The said body, also at a point below the extension 11, is formed with adnct 1a whose threaded portion 15 may beconnected in the nsual manner with the source of cold water supply. The two ducts 12 and 14 are separated'irom eachother, by means of a web 16. The said valve body is provided with a flange threaded 18 for the reception of the lower reducedend of a sleeve 19 which extends axially intofthe extension 11, the saidsleeve being relatively. short so that its upper end terminatesan appreciable distance below the top of said extension. This sleeve is termed with an annular flange the base of the dividing member against the gasket 23. This gasket is permanently seated upon a flange 24 formed within the body member 10 as a part thereof. In this manner, the sleeve 19 which is stationary at all times functions to maintain a stationary position of the dividing member within the extension 11. The purpose of this arrangement will be appreciated as the description goes forward.

The sleeve 19 is formed with a worm screw 25 whose threads co-act with an interior thread 26 of a rotary cylindrical nut 27. This nut is permanently connected at its upper end with the base of a rotary stem 28 by means of a pair of diametrically opposed webs 27 to provide intervening orifices 33 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Above the nut the stem is provided with a disk valve 29 whose lower face is provided with a gasket 30 adapted tobear against an inwardly flared upper extremity 31 of the dividing member 22, as shown inFigure 1. In addition to the said valve disk 29,which is adapted to co-act with the dividing member 22, the stem 28 is shown as being equipped with a valve element 32, the latter adapted to co-act with the interior walls of the sleeve 19 at the top of the latter, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

The nut 27 is spaced vertically from the interior walls of the dividing member 21, and as illustrated the verticalexteriorwalls of the dividing member are spaced vertically from the interior vertical walls of a cylin drical valve .34, the latter carried by a sleeve 35 which is telescoped within a bushing 36 carried by the extension 11. This sleeve 35 extends out of the bushing 36 and fixed to the sleeve is a controlling handle 37. The stem 28 hereinbefore referred to has a free end provided with a controlling knob 38 which may be turned manually to effect the respective adjustments of the valves 29 and 32 with respect to their mating seats.

The valve body 10 is provided between the ends of-its extension 11 with diametrically opposite connections 39 and 10,,the former adapted to be joined by the customary packing to a bath showerhead and the latter to a discharge i faucet of any proved design. The provided with a port-way 41 adapted to coincide with either one of the connections 39 and 40, depending upon an adjustment of the sleeve 35. In other words, and'by virtue of this means, theliquid to be discharged may be directed selectively to either one of these connections 39 and 40.

7 It is stated that an important object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel,

positively-acting mechanism that will insure a delivery of hot water without fear of its being in the least intermingled with cold 'wateror vice versa, together with an arrangement of instrumental'ities that will permit served that the valve disk 29 has been well-known ap cylindrical valve 34. is

graduated amounts of hot water to be mixed with cold water, in'order that water at just the desired temperature may be delivered at the discharge point of the mechanism. Reference may now be had to Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein the valve disk 29 is seated against'the upper edge of the dividing member 22"while the valve element 32 is positioned within the vertical bore of the sleeve 19. Before further proceeding, it is described that the bore of the sleeve 19 opens at its lower end into the duct 12 and that its upper end is adaptech-"when the element 32 is in an .unseated position, to open into the space A above said dividing member. With the parts in the position shown in Figure 1, which may be set'forth as the normal position of the valve mechanism, both of the valves are closed so as to prevent water from the connections 13-15 from in any way finding egress from the mechanism. The same would apply to the position of the parts shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. In Figure 1, it will be obso as to space it from the upper edge of the dividing member 21. It will further be observed that the valve element 32 has been lifted to a slight extent from the bore of the sleeve 19, but that it still functions valvelike to prevent any flow of water from the mechanism by way of the duct 12. IVith the valve disk 29 in its described" position, cold water is permitted to enter the dividing member through the radial base ports B thereof,

so that it may flow in an upward direction through the dividing member, thence from the member into the space between the member and the rotary valve 34-, thence to either the discharge faucet of the mechanism or the shower connection, as may dependupon a previous adjustment of the said valve 31. Cold water only is now being discharged from the mechanism without fear of its being intermingled with hot water.

On reference to Figure 5, itis observed that the valve 29 has been lifted to a greater distance above the upper edge of the dividing member 22 and that in so doing the valve element 32 has been entirely withdrawn from the bore of the sleeve 19. Hot water is now permitted to flow-through the sleeve simultaneously with the operation of flowing tancefrom-the upper edgevof the dividing lifted member 22 and in view of the fact that the cylindrical nut 27 is carried by the valve stem 28 and that the outer diameter of the nut is in agreement with the inner diameter of the dividing member, at'the flare ofthe from said connection,

latter, said nut itself acts va lve like to close the mechanism from the source of cold water supply. Therefore, hot water may be discharged from the mechanism without in any way being mixed with the cold water. It follows, from the niceties of construction, that the respective valve adjustments can be graduated so that hot water only can be delivered from the mechanism or cold water only, or a mixture of hot and cold water, and at temperatures that would suit the purpose.

The sleeve 19 is formed with a keyway 19a adapted to receive a key (not shown), so that same may be manually applied to or removed the flange 17 as desired. The elements 17, 27 and 26 are so designed that they may be readily incorporated in valve structures of well known types without requiring changes in the construction thereof;

lVe claim as our invention:

1. Valve mechanism comprising a body having hot and cold water inlet connections, respectively, the said body provided with a oluralit of outlet connections means for i. y 7

: opening or closing either or both of the outlet connections, means in communication with the cold water inlet, means in communication with the hot water inlet, a plurality of rotary valves in co-action with the respective second and third named means adapted to be pro gressively controlled to admit of the discharge of hot or cold water or hot and cold water from either of said outlet connections, and a rotarystem common to all of said valves for rotating the valves together.

2. Valve mechanism comprising a body having a plurality of liquid inlet connections, a sleeve opening to one of the connections, a member surrounding the sleeve and having its walls spaced therefrom, the said member opening to the other of said connections, a plurality of axially movable valves in coaction with the sleeve and said member, and means common to all of the valves to move same at one time but in graduated degrees with respect to said sleeve and said member so that when the valves are in one position, the sleeve will be open to its inlet connection while the member is closed to its inlet connection 2 and vice versa, and whereby when the valves are in another position both inlet connections will be operatively opened to the member and sleeve, respectively.

3. Valve mechanism comprising a body having normally non-communicating liquid inlet connections, a sleeve communicatin with one of said connections, a hollow member embracing the walls of the sleeve and. spaced therefrom and communicating with the other the body having discharge connections, a rotary valve for the discharge connections, said rotary valve forming a mixing chamber in co-action with the sleeve and said member, and a plurality of valves inclependent of said rotary valve arranged in coaction with the sleeve and said member so that either or both of said inletconne'ctions may be' opened to said rotary valve. 7

4. Valve'mechanism comprising a body having normal-1y non-communicating liquid inlet connections, a sleeve communicating with one of said connections, a hollow membe'rembracing the walls of the sleeve and spaced therefrom and communicating with the other said connection, the body having discharge connections, a rotary valve for the discharge'connection, said rotary valve forming a mixing chamber in co-action with the sleeve and said member, a plurality of valves independent of said rotary valve arranged in co-a'ction with the sleeve and said member so that either or both of said inlet connections may be opened to said rotary valve, and a single valve stem for said plurality of valves.

5-. Valve mechanism comprising a body having normally non-communicating liquid inlet connections, a sleeve communicating with one of said connections, a hollow member embracing the walls of the sleeve and spaced therefrom and communicating with the other said connection, the body having discharge connections, a rotary valve for the discharge connection, said rotary valve forminga mixing chamber in co-action with the sleeve an'dsaid member, a plurality of valves arranged in 'co-ac'tion with the sleeve and said member so that either orboth of said inlet connections may be opened to said rotary valve, and a single valve stem for said plurality of valves, one of the plurality of valves being threadedl'y connected with the sleeve and-adapted when in one position to close the said hollow member against the flow of liquid therefrom.

6. Valve mechanism comprising a body discharge connection, said rotary valve forming a mixing chamber, 111' co-action with the sleeve and said member, a plurality of other valves arranged in co-act1on with the sleeve and said member so that-either or both of said inlet connections may be opened to said rotary valve, and a single valve stem for said plurality of valves, one of the plurality of valvesbeing threadedly connected with the sleeve and adapted when in one position to close the said hollow member against the flow of liquid therefrom, another one of said plurality of valves being free to move respecti-ve-ly into'and out of'the sleeve to determine the flow of'liquid from the latter, and a third one of said plurality of valves adapted to close against one end of said'hollow member and'to co-act with the last said valve to pre- V V or member or both can be opened or closed 7 vent the flow of liquid from either of said inlet connections.

7. A valve structure having a plurality of inlet ports, a pair of axially positioned spaced apart members, respectively opening to said inlet ports and having discharge ends, and means movably mounted between said members and having portions adapted to co-act with said discharge ends for respectively opening and closing same with respect to said inlet ports of said structure, one of said members having means adapted for removable connection with the valve structure and means for engaging the other member so that both members are held normally in relatively stationary positions with respect to their respective ports.

8. A'mixing valve comprising a body having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a sleeve opening to one of the inlets, a member surrounding the sleeve in spaced relation thereto and opening to the other inlet, a plurality of valves for controlling the discharge of fluid from the sleeve and member to the outlet and by which either the sleeve or member or both can be opened or closed to the outlet, one of the valves being mounted on the sleeve for movement in coaction with the sleeve and operable when in one position to prevent the discharge of fluid from the member to the outlet, and a single actuator for the valves.

9. A mixing valve comprising a body having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a sleeve opening to one of the inlets, a member surrounding the sleeve in spaced relation thereto and opening to the other inlet, a plurality of valves for controlling the discharge of fluid from the sleeve and member to the outlet and by which either the sleeve or member or both can be opened or closed to the outlet, one of the valves being threadedly mounted on the sleeve and operable when rotated to one position to close the. member against the discharge of liquid therefrom to the outlet, and a single actuator for the valves.

10. A mixing valve comprising a body having a. pair of inlets and an outlet, an open-ended sleeve fixed in the body to communicate with one ofthe inlets for the flow of fluid from the latter through the sleeve,

a'hollow member fixed in the body in surrounding spaced relation to the sleeve to provide apassage communicating with the other inlet for the flow offiuid from the latter through the member, valves for controlling the flow of fluid from the sleeve and member to the outlet and by which either the sleeve tothe outlet, one of the valves including a nut threaded on the sleeve and by. which the valves are actuated to control the flow of fluid from the sleeve and member in response to rotationof the nut, the nut being operable when rotated to one position to prevent the flow of fluid from the member, and a single actuator for the valves.

11. A mixing valve as embodied in claim 10 wherein the nut is provided with a port through which fluid from the sleeve is adapted to flow into said passage when the valve controlling the sleeve is open.

12. A mixing valve as embodied in claim 10 wherein the sleeve is provided with a reduced portion threaded into the body to fixedly secure the sleeve in the body and is provided exteriorly with a shoulder engaging the member to clamp the latter ina fixed position in the body.

13. A mixing valve as embodied in claim 10 wherein one of said valves is in the formof a disk adapted for flatwise engagement with an end of the hollow member to close the latter to the outlet, and another valve is adapted to be received in an end of the sleeve to close the latter to the outlet l 14. A mixing valve as embodied in claim 10 wherein the member is provided with an opening in which the nut is adapted to enter when rotated to said position so that the nut closes the member against the flow of fluid therefrom to the outlet.

15. A mixing valve comprising a body having a pair of inlets and an outlet, a sleeve fixed in the body and being in communication with one inlet for the flow of fluid therefrom through, the sleeve, a hollow member fixed in the body in surrounding spaced relation to the sleeve'to provide a passage communicating with the other inlet for the flow of fluid from the latter through the memflow of fluid'from the sleeve and member,

means for mounting the valves for combined rotary and axial movements as a unit, to 00- cupy one positionwherein one valve closes the sleeve to the outlet and another valve closes the member to the outlet, a second position wherein the first valve maintains the sleeve closed to the outlet and the second valve opens the member to the outlet, a third position whereinthe first valve opens the sleeve to the outlet and the second valve maintains the member open to the outlet, and a fourth position wherein the first valve maintains the sleeve open to the outlet and a third valve closes the member to the outlet, the said mounting means for the valves comprising a nut threadedly mounted on the sleeve and constituting the third valve, and a single actuator for the valves.

' RALPH E. BLETCHER.

ERNEST HQBUCKNELL. 

